The Official Website of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul, Korea

PH DELEGATION PARTICIPATES IN APEC SOM 1 HELD IN GYEONGJU, KOREA

Top: APEC SOM Leaders during the APEC SOM Retreat in Hwangnyongwon, a famous cultural landmark in Gyeongju. Bottom: The DFA delegation during APEC SOM 1 in Gyeongju. APEC SOM Leader for the Philippines Charles C. Jose (center, 4^th from left) is joined by Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega of the Philippine Embassy in Seoul (5^th from left). The DFA delegation included APEC National Secretariat Director General Marcos A.S. Punsalang (3^rd from right), Special Assistant Joyce Quivooij (3^rd from left), Special Assistant Von Ryan Ferrera (2^nd from right), Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario, Protocol Officer Franz Alfonso, and Ms. Alleah Gordovez.

23 February - 11 March 2025, Gyeongju - The Philippines successfully participated in the first Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM 1) and Related Meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) for 2025 in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea.

As an active member of APEC, the Philippines continues to champion initiatives that promote long-term economic growth, inclusive prosperity, and multilateral collaboration in the region.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul was honored to support the Philippine delegation in Gyeongju as they engaged in discussions on human resource development, telecommunications and artificial intelligence, finance, as well as economic and technical cooperation initiatives.

Led by DFA Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations and APEC SOM Leader Charles C. Jose, the Philippines was represented by a high-level delegation with members from various national agencies including trade, tourism, finance, customs, agriculture, ICT, and the Central Bank, among others.

Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega likewise met several members of the ROK National Assembly including Chairman Kim Seok-ki of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification and Yongsan Representative Kwon Young-se at the sidelines of the APEC SOM1. The Ambassador expressed the Philippines’ appreciation for the ROK government’s efforts in convening the SOM1 in Gyeongju and thanked the ROK APEC national secretariat for their support for participating economies.

The APEC SOM 1 was also an opportunity for delegates to experience Gyeongju and the Gyeongsangbuk-do province. Often referred to as a “museum without walls”, Gyeongju is home to historical landmarks such as the Seokguram grotto, Bulguksa temple, Gyeongju Historic Areas, and Yangdong Folk Village which have been designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. 

The SOM 1 meeting sets the stage for a series of APEC discussions leading up to the Ministerial Meetings and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting later this year. END.

Led by PH Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations and APEC SOM Leader Charles C. Jose (bottom photo), the Philippines was represented by a high-level delegation with members from various national agencies including trade, tourism, finance, customs, agriculture, ICT, and the Central Bank among others.

Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega likewise met several members of the ROK National Assembly including Chairman Kim Seok-Ki of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Unification and Yongsan Representative Kwon Young-se at the sidelines of the APEC SOM1 (top row photos). The Ambassador also welcomed senior officials from the Philippines’ including Department of Tourism Chief for Policy and Planning Alex M. Macatuno (Bottom left, second from left) and Director Karen Kristine Roscom of the Department of Agriculture (Bottom right, second from right).

Top photo: Undersecretary Jose delivering an intervention at SOM1.

Undersecretary of Finance Joven Balbosa attended the Workshop on Digital Finance - March 5, 2025; and Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting Plenary - March 6-7, 2025. Managing Director Thomas Benjamin Marcelo of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, represented the Philippines at the 2025 APEC Finance and Central Bank Deputies’ Meeting.

PHILIPPINE AMBASSADOR AND KOREA MINISTER AGREE TO FORTIFY TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COOPERATION

Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MOLIT) H.E. Park Sang-woo met to discuss transportation and infrastructure cooperation on 21 March 2025.

21 March 2025, Seoul – Ambassador Ma. Theresa Dizon-De Vega assured Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transportation (MOLIT) H.E. Park Sang-woo of the Philippine commitment to fortifying transportation and infrastructure cooperation with the Republic of Korea through transformative projects that will improve connectivity in the Philippines, elevate the living standards of residents, and boost priority industries such as trade and tourism.

The Philippines and the Republic of Korea are partners in numerous transportation and infrastructure projects including the North-South Commuter Railway, the MRT Line 7 project, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport rehabilitation, the Laguna Lakeshore Network Project, and the Bridges program of the Philippines including the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge.

To further bolster PH-ROK partnership in transportation and infrastructure, Minister Park and Ambassador Dizon-De Vega agreed on the importance of exploring advancements, and opportunities in technology including in areas such as mechanical systems, engineering, and railways where the ROK is at the forefront. The Panguil Bay Bridge in Northern Mindanao, a flagship accomplishment completed through PH-ROK official development cooperation has won the prestigious Grand Prize at the Korean Institute of Bridge and Structural Engineering’s (KIBSE) 2024 Excellent Structure Awards.

Minister Park also encouraged the Philippines to leverage official development assistance funding made available by the Republic of Korea through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

Both sides also looked forward to continuing high-level exchanges on transportation and infrastructure to strengthen the partnership. The Republic of Korea is a key partner of the Philippines on projects requiring official development assistance under the Philippines’ Build Better More program.

Ambassador Dizon De Vega was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario. ROK Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Affairs Nam Youngwoo, Construction Policy Bureau and Overseas Development Team Director Hwang Se-eun, and Policy Advisor to the Minister Myung Gu Jin. END

Top: Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega and MOLIT Minister Park Sang-woo discuss PH-ROK cooperation on transportation and infrastructure. Ambassador Dizon De Vega was joined by Third Secretary and Vice Consul Reisha Olavario. Assistant Minister for Infrastructure Affairs Nam Youngwoo, Construction Policy Bureau and Overseas Development Team Director Hwang Se-eun, and Policy Advisor to the Minister Myung Gu Jin. Bottom: Ambassador Dizon-De Vega handed over a letter addressed to the MOLIT Minister from Philippine Secretary of Transportation Vivencio Dizon.

AMBASSADOR THERESA DIZON-DE VEGA JOINS THE GLOBAL GREEN GROWTH INSTITUTE IN WELCOMING ITS FIRST KOREAN DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DR. SANG-HYUP KIM

GGGI Inaugural Luncheon

18 March 2025, Seoul. Ambassador Theresa Dizon-De Vega attended the official inauguration of Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) new Director-General Dr. Sang-hyup Kim on 11 March 2025 at the Westin Josun Seoul Hotel. Director-General Kim is the first Korean Director-General to lead the GGGI in its continuing pursuit of a transformative green growth agenda alongside its Members and Partners. Dr. Kim began his four-year term with the GGGI on 01 January 2025.

Ambassador Dizon-De Vega joined over 140 dignitaries from GGGI’s line and partner Ministries in the Republic of Korea, representatives of diplomatic missions from GGGI Member States and Partner countries, representatives from intergovernmental, and non-governmental organizations, and private sector in the inaugural event. In her toast remarks, the Ambassador congratulated Director-General Kim on his new role in the GGGI and cited his initiatives in leveraging new technologies such as AI for green transformation.

At his inauguration, Director-General Kim shared GGGI’s strategic priorities moving forward, emphasizing plans to strengthen collaboration with key partners based on trust. He also highlighted the GGGI’s commitment to the development of AI services for Member States and leading public-private partnerships to build a hydrogen ecosystem, to enhance GGGI’s global impact. END

DFA Statement on Recent Ballistic Missile Launches Conducted by the DPRK

MANILA 14 March 2025 — The Philippines expresses serious concern and strongly denounces the recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Such provocative actions undermine economic progress, peace, and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.

We reiterate our call on the DPRK to promptly cease these activities and abide by all international obligations, including relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, and to commit to peaceful and constructive dialogue. END

DFAStatement14March DPRK